Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Comparision protocols for extraction of microplastics in water samples

Researchers compared four different extraction protocols for isolating microplastics from water samples and found significant differences in efficiency and accuracy across methods. Standardized extraction protocols are critical for producing comparable microplastic abundance data across studies. Without consistent methodology, it is difficult to build a reliable global picture of microplastic contamination levels in water.

2023 Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic extraction from sediments established? – A critical evaluation from a trace recovery experiment with a custom-made density separator

Scientists evaluated the accuracy of a custom density separator for extracting small microplastic particles from sediment, finding variable recovery rates across different polymer types. Standardized and validated extraction methods are essential for accurate measurements of microplastic contamination in sediment environments.

2021 Analytical Methods 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of microplastic isolation and extraction procedures from marine sediments

Researchers compared five methods for extracting microplastics (40-710 μm) from marine sediments by spiking known MP quantities into sediment matrices and measuring percent recovery across extraction approaches. Results showed that sediment matrix composition, MP properties including size and polymer type, and extraction method all significantly influenced recovery efficiency, underscoring the need for standardized extraction protocols to enable cross-study comparisons.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 90 citations
Article Tier 2

A straightforward protocol for extracting microplastics from freshwater sediment with high organic content

Researchers developed a simplified protocol for extracting microplastics from organic-rich clayey freshwater sediments. The method achieved recovery rates exceeding 83% for five common plastic types and minimized particle loss by reducing container transfers, offering a practical and effective approach for environmental monitoring.

2025 Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the efficiency of microplastics extraction methods for tropical beach sediments and matrix preparation for experimental controls

Researchers tested and compared multiple methods for extracting microplastics from tropical beach sediment samples and evaluated how to prepare reliable experimental controls, finding that method choice significantly affects both recovery efficiency and particle counts. Standardizing extraction protocols is essential for generating comparable baseline data across study sites — a prerequisite for designing evidence-based policies to address microplastic pollution on beaches.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Revisión de métodos de muestreo, detección, caracterización de microplásticos y control de calidad en columna de agua y sedimentos

This Spanish-language review surveys the methods used to sample, detect, and characterize microplastics in water and sediments, cataloguing the advantages and limitations of each approach. The authors highlight that the lack of standardized protocols makes it impossible to reliably compare studies — a critical obstacle to understanding how widespread microplastic contamination really is and what it means for ecosystems and human health.

2023 Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua 2 citations
Article Tier 2

An optimized density-based approach for extracting microplastics from soil and sediment samples

Researchers optimized a density-based extraction method for isolating microplastics from soil and sediment samples, testing different density solutions and separation steps to maximize recovery efficiency. The improved protocol reduces contamination risks and particle loss, enabling more accurate quantification of microplastics in terrestrial and freshwater sediment matrices.

2019 Environmental Pollution 215 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of microplastic sample preparation method for freshwater samples

Researchers developed and validated a standardized sample preparation method for extracting microplastics from freshwater samples, testing enzymatic digestion and density separation steps to improve recovery rates and reduce measurement uncertainty across different particle types.

2021 Water Research 46 citations
Article Tier 2

A new analytical approach for monitoring microplastics in marine sediments

Researchers developed a new analytical approach for monitoring microplastics specifically in marine sediments, improving extraction and identification steps to enable more reliable and standardized environmental monitoring of seafloor contamination.

2013 Environmental Pollution 1349 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic identification and quantification from organic rich sediments: A validated laboratory protocol

Researchers developed and validated a laboratory protocol for extracting, quantifying, and identifying microplastics from organic-rich sediments with fine grain sizes. The study addressed the challenge of analyzing microplastics in contamination hotspots like harbors and estuaries, where high organic content makes extraction difficult, and provided a cost-effective integrated method for more reliable environmental monitoring.

2020 Environmental Pollution 136 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards a Consensus Method for the Isolation of Microplastics from Freshwater Sediments

This paper works toward a consensus method for isolating microplastics from complex environmental matrices, comparing existing protocols and identifying sources of variability in recovery and detection. Standardization is identified as critical for making results comparable across studies.

2024 Environments 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic content in natural waters and sediments: sampling and sample preparation

Researchers reviewed and evaluated sampling and analytical methods for measuring microplastic content in natural waters and sediments, assessing sources of error and variability in current approaches. The review recommended a standardized protocol to improve cross-study comparability.

2024 Журнал аналитической химии
Article Tier 2

A critical review of microplastics characterisation in aquatic environments: recent trends in the last 10 years

This critical review assessed current approaches to characterizing microplastics in aquatic environments, evaluating sampling methods, extraction protocols, and analytical techniques. It identified persistent inconsistencies in methodology and recommended standardization practices to improve data comparability.

2024 Analytical Methods 4 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical review of the novel analytical methods for the determination of microplastics in sand and sediment samples

This review critically assessed novel analytical methods for detecting microplastics in sand and sediment samples, comparing extraction procedures and identification techniques while highlighting the need for standardized protocols across laboratories.

2023 TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of two procedures for microplastics analysis in sediments based on an interlaboratory exercise

Researchers compared two laboratory procedures for extracting and identifying microplastics in sediments through an interlaboratory exercise, evaluating a 'core' method and an 'augmentation' method using visual microscopy for particle identification, and providing recommendations to improve standardization of sediment microplastic analysis.

2022 Chemosphere 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Methodological similarities and discrepancies among studies on microplastics in South American continental aquatic environments

Researchers conducted a systematic review of 57 studies on microplastic pollution in South American continental aquatic environments, identifying significant methodological discrepancies in sampling, detection limits, and sample preparation that limit cross-study comparability and proposing standardization approaches.

2025 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
Article Tier 2

Developmentof Standardized Methods to Extract andDigest Microplastics in Environmental Samples

Researchers reviewed and compared extraction and digestion methods for isolating microplastics from environmental samples, finding that the lack of standardization across techniques is a major barrier to producing comparable results and calling for validated universal protocols.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Detection and Analysis from Water and Sediment: A Review

This review summarized current methods for detecting and analyzing microplastics in water and sediment samples, covering sampling techniques, extraction procedures, identification technologies, and quality control measures needed for reliable microplastic quantification.

2023 Macromolecular Symposia 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Characterization of Microplastics in Coastal Beach Sand: Insights from a Case Study at Praia Vermelha, Brazil

Researchers developed and validated a standardised protocol for collecting, processing, and characterising microplastics in beach sands at Praia Vermelha in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using flotation extraction and systematic sampling to demonstrate the methodology's effectiveness for identifying microplastics from coastal plastic waste disposal.

2025 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
Article Tier 2

Microplastic abundance and characteristics in French Atlantic coastal sediments using a new extraction method

Researchers developed a new extraction method for microplastics from coastal Atlantic sediments in France and applied it to characterize microplastic abundance and composition, finding widespread contamination and demonstrating the method's improved efficiency for recovering particles from sediment matrices.

2018 Environmental Pollution 127 citations